Texans Collapse in Denver, Fall 30-13 as Run Defense Hits Rock Bottom
DENVER (AP) — Whatever stability remained in the Houston Texans’ season evaporated Sunday at Empower Field, where the Denver Broncos bulldozed their way to a 30-13 win, rushing for 225 yards and exposing every flaw in Houston’s crumbling defense.
The loss dropped Houston to 5-3 and magnified the issues that have plagued David Shaw’s squad all season — namely, an inability to stop the run and an offense that can’t stay on the field long enough to give the defense a breather.
“We just didn’t tackle well. We didn’t fit the run. We didn’t execute — plain and simple,” Shaw said afterward, his tone weary and clipped. “That’s on me. That’s on all of us.”
The Texans entered the season with championship aspirations but have instead looked lost on defense, giving up over 150 rushing yards in four of their last five games. Even linebacker Logan Wilson, one of the few bright spots, couldn’t mask the frustration. “It’s embarrassing,” he admitted. “We know we’re better than this, but we’re not showing it.”
The defeat — Houston’s third in four games — proved to be the final straw for the organization. Less than 24 hours later, GM TH made the decision to part ways with Shaw, ending a once-celebrated tenure that had lost its spark.
Chargers Crush Titans 37-6 Behind Stafford’s Precision and McCaffrey’s Balance
NASHVILLE (AP) — The Los Angeles Chargers looked every bit like a team rediscovering its identity Sunday, dismantling the Tennessee Titans 37-6 at Nissan Stadium in one of their most complete performances of the season.
With head coach Bobby Slowik’s offense firing on all cylinders, Matthew Stafford delivered his cleanest outing in a Chargers uniform, carving up Tennessee’s secondary for 330 yards and two touchdowns. His decisiveness kept the Titans off balance all afternoon, and the veteran quarterback never allowed the pass rush to dictate tempo.
Complementing the aerial attack was another steady performance from Christian McCaffrey, who rushed for 104 yards and a touchdown while adding several chain-moving plays that kept Tennessee’s defense guessing. McCaffrey’s vision and burst repeatedly turned modest lanes into chunk gains, helping Los Angeles control the clock and the momentum throughout the afternoon.
Defensively, the Chargers overwhelmed a stagnant Titans offense. They squeezed the run game, pressured the quarterback, and refused to allow Tennessee any life after halftime. By the fourth quarter, fans in Nashville were heading toward the exits as the game slipped completely out of reach.
For a Chargers team that has battled inconsistency this season, Sunday marked a statement. A dominant road win. Balanced offense. Smothering defense. And maybe — just maybe — the spark they need heading into the stretch run.
Packers Outlast Panthers 30-24 in Overtime Thriller at Lambeau
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The Green Bay Packers needed extra time Sunday, but one defensive play and one punishing run were enough to secure a 30-24 overtime victory over the Carolina Panthers at Lambeau Field.
Carolina won the overtime coin toss and chose to receive, but the advantage evaporated instantly. On the first play of the extra period, Bryce Young scrambled to his right and was met by edge rusher Carl Granderson, who delivered a clean, jarring hit that knocked the ball loose. Green Bay jumped on the fumble, setting up the offense just outside the red zone with a chance to end it.
Three plays later, Isiah Pacheco did exactly that. The Packers’ bruising back powered through the middle for the game-winning touchdown, capping a day in which his physical running style again proved indispensable to Green Bay’s offense.
The win moves the Packers forward in their pursuit of NFC playoff positioning and reinforces the formula that has carried them all season: timely defense, explosive skill players, and Pacheco closing the show when it matters most.
49ers Shake Off Early Pick-Six, Roll Past Giants 44-19 in New York
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — An early mistake didn’t rattle Jordan Love or the San Francisco 49ers, who responded with 44 unanswered points to dominate the New York Giants 44-19 on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
Love’s day began with a misread that turned into a pick-six, giving the Giants an early spark and a brief 7-0 lead. But from that moment on, the reigning 3GML MVP was nearly flawless. Love finished with 335 yards and three touchdowns, carving up the Giants secondary and guiding San Francisco to touchdowns on six of its next seven drives.
The 49ers offense found its rhythm quickly after the turnover, spreading the ball around and attacking every level of the field. San Francisco’s defense complemented the surge with steady pressure and tight coverage, holding the Giants offense to field goals until late in the game.
The win pushes the 49ers back onto stable footing as they continue their pursuit of the NFC West title, and Love’s response to adversity was the exact kind of performance head coach Kyle Shanahan has preached about: shake it off, keep firing, and force defenses to pick their poison.
